Ray Keane: ‘We’re progressing’ as Cork U20s set up Kerry showdown after hammering Waterford 

Cork manager Ray Keane was far more interested in what lies ahead than in the 0-33 to 1-9 scoreline that swept his side into the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Wednesday evening.

The Rebels’ dominant 21-point win over Waterford in their Phase 2 Round 3 game sealed their place in next Thursday’s provincial decider against Kerry at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, but Keane’s post-match tone made it clear that the real work starts now.

Cork know what they want as they chase their first bit of silverware at this grade since 2021.

“We’re progressing, simple as that,” the Éire Óg clubman said post-match.

“I told the lads before the game I’d have taken a one-point win. There are tired bodies inside there now. We’re trying to get right now for Kerry, all about recovery, and hopefully get one or two of the lads who are out back.

“In fairness to our medical team, they’ll do absolutely everything they can. You can see the lads are in great shape. We’ll go down to Kerry and see where it takes us.” 

Despite the margin of victory, Keane was reluctant to paint the performance as flawless. Waterford, he noted, had a couple of goal chances they didn’t convert. Cork, though, left a lot behind them. 

“Somebody told me we left 6–9 after us, which is frightening when you think about it,” he said.

“Waterford probably got down the middle for three or four goal chances. We scrambled one or two away. Cathal McCarthy pulled a ball out — I don’t know how he did it. You could argue he went across the square with another one when he shouldn’t have, and they ended up with a goal.

“Overall, we are delighted with the attitude and the work rate. You’ve known me long enough — that’s what it’s really all about. Anything is possible then when you have that right.” 

Cork’s spread of scorers was again impressive. Seán Coakley was though the best player on the pitch as he hit 0-9 in a forward line that had all scored when the 17th minute arrived. 

The manager was unmoved by the numbers.

“I don’t really care who scores. If we win a low-scoring game, I’m happy. Not everyone has to score, not everyone has to perform. If you do the simple things right, you’ll get into those positions.

“In fairness, Seán Coakley has been out for an awful long time. Sometimes it takes a run of games. All of the players are doing everything they possibly can just to be ready to perform at this level. You must remember they’re humans at the end of it all.

“If you’re honest and you work hard enough, everything else will follow. We back them all to fulfil their potential. That’s the most important thing.” 

Dara Sheedy picked up a hamstring injury in the group stage win over Kerry recently. The senior star is a doubt for the Munster final against the Kingdom.

Keane, though, remained coy.

“I don’t have any update, because I’ll be straight — I was concentrating on this game with Waterford, and that’s all that mattered.

“We’ll concentrate on Kerry now. If Dara’s ready, he’ll play. If he’s not, he won’t. That’s the way it is.

“But I would put my faith in the senior medical team and our own medical team that they’ll do their utmost to try and get him right. Look, if he’s ready for the final, it would be great.”